Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF

Serving 54,757 residents in KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina .

National rank 12th percentile
North Carolina rank 23th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (51/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 54,757 residents in KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 704-902-4259.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
54,757
People served
1
City served
21
Contaminants detected
12
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is KANNAPOLIS tap water safe to drink?

KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.

The utility serves 54,757 residents in KANNAPOLIS, drawing from surface water.

Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 46.6 ppb, 776x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.6 ppt, 600x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 37.2 ppb, 372x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Contact KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Recommended water filters for KANNAPOLIS

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

Score breakdown

This utility's overall score of 51/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
4 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

Contaminants detected — international standards comparison

Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
4.22 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 EPA violation
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
46.6 ppb 0.06 776× over
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
0.6 ppt 0.001 10.0 600× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
37.2 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 372× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
41.7 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 278× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
16.3 ppb 0.1 163× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
8.61 ppb 0.06 144× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
20.6 ppb 0.2 103× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
32.2 ppb 0.4 80× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
2.01 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 22× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
0.929 ppb 0.1 9.3× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0669 ppb 0.02 3.3× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
192.6 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.31 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Atrazine
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.0762 ppb 0.1 3.0 0.1 100 0.15 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
5.22 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.424 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.279 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
2,4-D
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.0778 ppb 20.0 70.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.217 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.847 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF service area

This water system serves 1 community in Rowan County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
NC0180065
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water
Service connections
21,588
Service area
KANNAPOLIS, Rowan County, North Carolina